Progress On The Northern Ireland Cycling Strategy

29 January 2007
PROGRESS ON THE NORTHERN IRELAND CYCLING STRATEGY
"Cycling has the potential to deliver benefits across many aspects of life," said Regional Development Minister, David Cairns, as he announced a new report.
The Minister highlighted a number of benefits including health, child development, reduced traffic congestion, noise and pollution, tourism, environmental awareness and social inclusion, as he announced the publication of a second progress report on the Northern Ireland Cycling Strategy.
The Strategy was prepared in June 2000 and a first report on progress was published in 2002. This second report monitors progress five years on and highlights opportunities to improve and consolidate the future delivery and implementation of measures to support cycling.
The Minister said: "The Northern Ireland Cycling Strategy was a building block to encourage and facilitate a more sustainable way of travelling.
"I welcome the progress that has been made to date. I am particularly encouraged by the increase in cycle trips, of more that 50%, in the Greater Belfast area between 2000 and 2005.
"I look forward to the further promotion and development of the cycling agenda across Northern Ireland in the future.
"Increasing cycle usage requires good planning, the construction of new routes, good maintenance of routes, supported by marketing activities. No one organisation can perform all these tasks and the fostering of good local partnerships, to help co-ordinate the delivery of these activities is essential.
Tom McClelland, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Cycling Forum Board said:
"Cycling is an increasingly important way to improve health and control obesity. Cycling integrates easily into ordinary everyday journeys, 65% of which are less than five miles in Northern Ireland, ideal distances to cycle."
NOTES TO EDITORS:

The document is available on the Department for Regional Development's publication scheme website at http://www.drdni.gov.uk/DRDwww_FOI/

Media queries to: Emma Flynn Davies, Department for Regional Development, Press Office, 028 9054 0007.

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